Alana Morouney

Sackville, N.B.

Alana Morouney, Knotwork, 2021. Needle felting, wool, polygonum cuspidatum (knotweed), alum and cotton thread, 48 x 102 x 13 cm. COURTESY OF GALLERY ON QUEEN.

Studio: How would you describe your approach to your medium? What made you choose it?

Alana Morouney: I am a textile artist and metal sculptor. I use sculptural knitting, needle felting, weaving, and natural dyeing in my work. Making the work has to be enjoyable, and I like scratching a certain spatial thinking itch in planning projects. I draft patterns that I’ll alter as I go, as things usually take shape differently than expected. Natural dyeing, welding and weaving all require times of slowness and consideration, but welding in particular requires a such a deep focus that the pace of time slows.

Alana Morouney, I feel different, spending all my time alone, 2020. Needle felted wool and acid dye, 14 x 30 x 13 cm. COURTESY OF OWENS ART GALLERY.

S: How would you describe yourself, personally and professionally?

AM: I am the only child of a potter and an intaglio printmaker. I grew up in the woods, in a house they built full of beautiful things made by their friends. Seeing everything around me start with a pair of hands, there was less hesitation, and perhaps more naivety to make things myself. I’m at a place now where I’m able to follow curiosity, and am eager to learn new techniques and skills in familiar or unexplored mediums without apprehension.

Alana Morouney, there it is, 2024. Men have told me I made this with cotton thread, wool, leather and steel, 18 x 18 x 20 cm. COURTESY OF THE ARTIST.

S: What inspires you?

AM: I have a ten year old, and have been a single parent for part of that time, so I’ve had one foot in the fantasy world of children for awhile. That, and having a studio that’s open to the rest of the house shapes my work. When kids are little, the sea of demands is deep, so I would work at night; focusing on making things to sell. Eventually that tide of needs recedes, and I could use larger sculptures to explore inward thought. So much of childhood is fantasy, but motherhood brought unique waves of escapism and insight.

Alana Morouney, Dream-O-Scope, 2022. Steel, plexiglass, mirror, wood, concrete, and rubber bicycle handles, 178 x 61 x 66 cm. COURTESY OF THE ARTIST.

S: What do you see as your contribution to the field of your craft?

AM: I live in a small town and get tired of my own thoughts about art. I started the monthly speaker series 6 Minute Eggs with support from Simone Schmidt at Struts Gallery. After the first one gave people courage to make mistakes in public, Jon Claytor jumped in and has been an integral part ever since. Supportive communities make larger impacts than individuals, so I volunteer in my arts community when I can. I’ve found meaningful support there, and I’m eager to give others that same encouragement and opportunities for development.

S: What wisdom do you want to impart to younger makers?

AM: Don’t compare yourself to others. Find your own idea of success that comes from within yourself that isn’t reactive to external pressures.

If you’re feeling uninspired, clean your studio/workspace.

Make your life a garden, always growing, and able to change with the seasons of aging. Let dormancy happen without guilt. Pick flowers for a friend’s table. If you find yourself without community, create it and invite people in.

Alana Morouney
instagram: @alana.morouney
website: alanamorouney.com/

This article was published in the Spring/Summer 2024 issue of Studio Magazine.